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After Dark in the Park Video Archive - January 23, 2018

Pele's hair, Pele's tears, and other ash are produced by bursting gas bubbles in the lava lake at Kīlauea’s summit. The amount of ash erupted daily ranges widely owing to short-term fluctuations in vigor of spattering. The monthly amount of ash, however, varies systematically with time, reflecting changing lake level, which, in turn, varies with the rate of magma supply. The methodical collecting of ash unexpectedly discovered a magma supply that pulses over several-month periods—the first such pulsing recognized at any volcano. This illustrated lecture, presented by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson, demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries.